Whalers rally to beat Williamsport

Chris Brodeur

Updated 12:13 am, Saturday, January 5, 2013

DANBURY -- Phil Esposito built this edition of the Danbury Whalers to be industrious, not flashy; to grind out narrow victories instead of pouring it on; to make the fundamental check their signature rather than the highlight-reel goal.

Friday night, if only for one game, the architect's vision became a reality.

Second-period goals from Tyler Noseworthy and Rich Vanderhoek lifted the Whalers to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the rival Williamsport Outlaws in front of about 2,000 fans at the Danbury Arena. Nick Niedert saved 34 of 36 shots and Danbury defensemen stood tall to absorb countless others as the Whalers preserved their third win in four games with a scoreless third period.

"That's exactly what I envisioned right there," said Esposito, who has repeatedly professed his preferred team identity throughout his second year as head coach and director of hockey operations. "I would have liked to score a couple more goals than we had, but we had a ton of chances. ... The way I was planning on us winning hockey games this year was getting ourselves into position to win a game, taking a lead and keeping it down the stretch. Tonight we did that."

Former Whaler Marty Moucha provided the first period's only offense 2:24 in with a scorched slap shot from the point that beat Niedert high.

The Whalers wouldn't get on the board until the 3:30 mark of the second period, when Mike Atkinson set up Kamil Vavra's power-play tap-in from behind the net to briefly knot the game at 1-1. Williamsport regained the lead on a Matt Puntureri goal 24 seconds later.

A neutral-zone turnover led to a shorthanded Whalers equalizer with 8:41 left in the second: Noseworthy, who captured MVP honors in Wednesday's FHL All-Star game, took a feed from Cody Ayers and fired in a low wrist shot.

Then, some four minutes later, a persistent, multi-shot effort on the doorstep by Vanderhoek gave the Whalers their first lead and the game its final margin at 3-2.

Friday marked the return of original Whaler Lynn Beedle, who signed a contract Wednesday to bolster Danbury's defensive unit. His 83 career games trail only Sean O'Malley on the Whalers' all-time list.

"(Beedle) helped out tremendously," Esposito said. "Nothing against some of the rookies we have. But when you have a guy back there who's got a little bit of poise, and he doesn't panic under pressure, and he knows how to play the game and play it simple, it makes our job a lot easier."

More difficult for Esposito will be deciding on a starting netminder if Niedert stays in a similar groove.

The veteran goalie started in place of Whalers captain Mike Brown, who had the night off after playing two periods in the All-Star game.

Esposito intends to use both goalies throughout the second half's more demanding slate.

"They're fighting it out right now to see who's going to be the starter," Esposito said.

"Personally, I like the competition. I think it's going to make both of them play better. If one guy really takes the reins, we're going to ride him."